Chapter 224: Early Spring

The crowd gradually stopped cheering. They stopped and stared blankly in the direction of the Larr Mountains. A gigantic Monster, reeking of sulfur, was slowly walking toward them. It was so enormous that the entire earth trembled with every step.

It was also so terrifying, exuding an almost tangible sense of ominousness. It inhaled deeply, and the black mist in the valley slowly surged toward it. The Monsters closest to it were involuntarily drawn by the black mist, flying toward it and turning into black blood mid-air.

Ace’s eyes instantly turned red. The badge on his chest flashed with a soft golden light, soothing him and clearing his eyes.

“It’s this feeling! Although lower level, it’s similar to the invisible whispering I heard! Am I more susceptible to the influence of Abyssal existences because I used the forbidden knowledge of the Abyss?

It really is terrifying. If I hadn’t discovered it early, I might have unknowingly turned into an Abyssal kin and completely lost myself!”

Having regained his sanity, Ace said with lingering fear. Then his gaze became sharp. He used Insight Perception and Mana Sensitivity, clearly discovering black and pale red intertwined on the Monster’s body. He continued:

“This should be an Intermediate Monster. I don’t know why it was transformed by the power of the Abyss. I can’t let it continue to absorb the black mist. Its power is constantly increasing. I must interrupt it immediately!”

He did not hesitate. He immediately used Soul Spells to create a super-large high-pressure air railgun and invested ten Glycerin Magic Tubes at once as a test.

Accompanied by a roar, the Inferno Missile whistled away. The Monster was still slowly absorbing the black mist, unresponsive, and was instantly hit by the Inferno Missile.

In the vision of Insight Perception, the Monster’s skin was only slightly grazed. It shook its body, continuing to absorb the black mist while charging at Ace.

Ace engaged it calmly, agilely and cautiously dodging its attacks with Flash Teleportation and Mana Crystal Wings. After a few minutes, Ace confirmed that this Monster did not possess high intelligence. Eroded by the power of the Abyss, it had become more chaotic and disorderly.

However, this Monster had extremely thick skin. Even Inferno Missiles couldn’t cause effective damage, let alone ordinary cannons. It was over ten meters tall. If Ace hadn’t engaged it, a single collision would probably destroy Nightlight City.

“It’s too late to organize people to retreat to the Magic Ship now. I must find a way to kill it. If I can’t break through from the outside, what should I do?”

Ace thought while fighting.

Bang!

The Monster almost hit the distracted Ace. Thanks to the sudden appearance of a seven-layer Mana Crystal ring, Ace was spared.

“Host, we must cooperate!”

It was the rational mirror image who saved Ace. Their eyes met, souls resonated, and they instantly understood each other’s thoughts.

Ace opened the spatial stomach pouch at his waist. He poured a large number of incompletely transformed Glycerin Magic Tubes onto the mirror image, which turned into long hairs, clinging tightly to the rational mirror image clone.

Ace fully released his Inherent Mana, using the Mana Crystal Shaping spell. Boom!

Hundreds of Soul Spell Models appeared near the giant Monster. Barbed Mana Crystal chains extended from them. Ace knew the Mana Crystal chains couldn’t penetrate the giant Monster’s tough skin, so he directly guided the Mana Crystal chains infused with Inherent Mana to bind the giant Monster.

Bound by the Mana Crystal chains, the giant Monster struggled fiercely. Although the chains broke, they regenerated again, making it impossible to break free for a while. The enraged giant Monster opened its bloody maw and let out an angry roar.

Panting heavily, Ace said to the mirror image: “My Inherent Mana is about to hit rock bottom. You only have five seconds!”

The rational mirror image looked back at Ace with a cold smile, then suddenly leaped into the giant Monster’s opening bloody maw, drilling directly into its esophagus.

At close range, Ace and the mirror image clone could achieve shared consciousness and sensation. He flew backward rapidly while his consciousness took over the mirror image’s body, instantly merging with the consciousness in the mirror image’s soul fragment. In this instant, he seemed to realize something.

“Perhaps this is the most correct way to use clones: countless bodies unified under one consciousness, with the others being merely sub-consciousnesses.”

While Ace was thinking, the clone, protected by the Mana-Crystal Protection Membrane, had entered the giant Monster’s stomach. Strong stomach acid corroded the protection membrane, making sizzling sounds.

Ace realized he couldn’t wait any longer. He had to detonate internally immediately. Following the direction of the giant Monster’s heartbeat, he first used Glycerin Magic Tubes to blast a small hole in the Monster’s stomach, then drilled out through it, rushing toward its heart.

While struggling, the giant Monster suddenly felt intense pain and rolled on the ground, shaking the entire valley violently.

As it rolled, continuous muffled explosions came from its abdomen. It then fell to the ground, completely losing its combat capability. Ace looked at the distant sky; it was already pale with the first light of dawn shining into the valley.

Three months later, early spring, High Tower Territory Harbor District.

Carlo leaned against a wooden pile near the harbor water area, feeling the cool sea breeze, and was telling several young people:

“…Lord Torch-Bearer chanted a terrible incantation, and the giant elephant-like Monster immediately knelt and begged for mercy. This is the power of Magic! Even a gigantic Monster can be conquered by it!”

These young people surrounded Carlo, listening to his account of the battle three months ago. Although there were many exaggerations, Carlo was eloquent and emotionally invested in his storytelling, which greatly interested many young people who had been carrying ammunition and hadn’t been on the city wall at the time.

Since killing thirty-one Monsters consecutively in the last Waning Moon Monster Siege, Carlo had been promoted to Company Commander. However, he was still unhappy because he hadn’t returned to the soldier ranks but was appointed as the Militia Company Commander, responsible for maintaining order in the harbor district.

Just as he was spraying saliva while talking, everyone suddenly stared straight ahead, looking into the distance. A sailing ship flying a strange fish-head flag slowly appeared from the sea surface, getting closer and closer to the harbor.

“Wooooo—”

Bugle calls sounded successively. One Magic Ship and four cannon-equipped sailing ships in the harbor all began to prepare for battle. Carlo led his men frantically toward the battery in the harbor district, shouting: “Everyone, Level 1 Alert! Quickly notify Lord Wizard Apprentice and contact Nightlight City!”

Just then, several Wizard Apprentices stationed in the harbor district walked out quickly and shouted using the Lesser Amplification Spell: “It’s the sailing ship returning from Cimali! Do not fire!”

Daina and Borg stood on the deck, slowly approaching the harbor district with a ship full of supplies. Daina held her Grimoire, communicating with the stationed Wizard Apprentices. Soon, the gate between the harbor jetty and the east breakwater opened, and the brig slowly sailed into the harbor.

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